Handle for receptacles



J. H. LEVIN HANDLE FOR RECEPTACLES June 29, 1943.

Original Filed Oct. 11, 1941 w M a a J ,7 M 2 MU M 0 w INVENTOR.

Patented June 29, 1943 ED STATES I ICE f l V 2,323,094

HANDLE'FOR ascrtrrscpss Joseph H. Levin, Brooklyn, Y. 7 Original application October 11, 1941, serial No.

414,674. Divided and this application January 23, 1943, Serial No. 473,371

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a handle for receptacles and is more especially a division of an application filed by me on October 11, 1941, Serial No. 414,674.

An object of the invention is to provide a readily collapsible handle which, after being connected to the open top of a receptacle, can be supported therein where it is out of the way of a lid or the like but can be easily lifted out of position with the grip portion thereof located where it can be grasped easily by the user.

Another object is to provide a handle which, when released by the user, will drop back into its collapsed position within the upper portion of the receptacle to which it is connected.

A further object is to provide a collapsible handle which will not interfere with the removal of any of the contents of the container, the grip portion being shiftable forwardly or backwardly out of the way when articles are to be removed from or placed in the receptacle.

A further object is to provide a handle especiall adapted for use in connection with tool boxes although it is to be understood that it could be used on other kinds of receptacles to be carried.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it bein understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing I Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper portion of a receptacle equipped with the present improvements, the handle being shown raised into position for use.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2, Figure 1, the position of the handle when partly and entirely collapsed or folded being shown by broken lines.

Figure 3 is a plan view of one side portion of the receptacle, the adjacent portion of the handle being shown partly in section and partly in elevation in collapsed or folded position, some of the positions to which the grip can be shifted being indicated by broken lines.

Referrin to the figures by characters of reference, I designates a portion of a receptacle preferably in the form of a box which can be of any size, shape or material. For example it can be made of sheet metal and the upper edge portions of the walls can be bent inwardly to form a ledge 2 and thence upwardly to provide a continuous flange 3.

The handle constituting the present invention is located within the open top of the receptacle and comprises opposed pairs of links 14 each having a longitudinal slot IS. The links of each pair are oppositel disposed and one link of each pair is pivotally connected at IE to the side wall of the receptacle close to the front and adjacent to the top thereof while the other link of said pair is pivotally connected as at H to the side wall close to the back of the receptacle but adjacent to the top- The links are of such length as to extend substantially from one pivot to the other and said links are provided with laterally extended lugs 18 whereby the links'will be supported one by the other when they are in substantially horizontal positions within the upper portion of the receptacle.

A rod or grip I9 is located between the respective pairs of links and is held against separation therefrom by any suitable means such as the heads of screws 20 which extend through the slots and into the rod. Obviously when the links are in their normal or lowered positions where they are parallel and within the upper portionof the receptacle, the grip 2| can be slid along the slots to bring it close to either the front or the back wall of the receptacle as shown by broken lines will act to suspend the receptacle from the ends of the grip so that the structure can readily be carried from place to place. When thereceptacle is placed on a support the grip can be released and will gravitate, with the links, to their normal positions within the upper portion of the receptacle and thereafter the grip can be pushed forwardly or backwardly, if desired, so that articles can be easily placed in or removed from the receptacle as before stated.

While the links have been shown extended toward the front and back walls of the receptacle it is to be understood that in some constructions low the top of the receptacle, and a member slidably mounted at its ends within the slots in the respective pairs into position adjacent either of two opposed walls of the receptacle and intoposition above the receptacle, said links 'constituting the sole connection between said member and the receptacle.

2. The combination with a receptacle, of opposed pairs of longitudinally slotted links pivotally connected to the inner sides of opposed walls of the receptacle, the links of each pair being extended in opposite directions respectively from their pivots, means for supportin the links normally in substantially horizontal positions below the top of the receptacle, and a member slidably mounted at its ends within the slotsi in the respective pairs into position adjacent either of two opposed walls of the receptacle and into position above the receptacle, said links constituting the sole connection between said member and the receptacle, said member including a grip, and means on the grip and within the slots for holding the grip against separation from the links.

JOSEPH H. LEVIN. 

